Russia agrees to stop recruiting Ghanaians to fight in Ukraine
President Mahama raised the matter with Vladimir Putin in Moscow. At least 62 Ghanaians have been killed in the conflict.
The government of Ghana has announced that Russia has agreed to stop recruiting Ghanaian nationals to fight in its war against Ukraine.
According to a statement from Accra, President Vladimir Putin gave the assurance to President John Mahama on the sidelines of the Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow last week. Mr Putin reportedly undertook to bar Ghanaians from taking part in the war, whether through irregular recruitment or voluntary enlistment.
Last month the Ghanaian government said its citizens had been "tricked" into joining the Russian war effort and urged Moscow to do more to prevent it. By mid-August, more than 270 Ghanaians had fought for Russia. At least 62 have been killed and 15 remain missing.
Ghana is not alone. Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria, Cameroon and The Gambia have all complained that their nationals were lured to the front with false promises of employment or educational opportunities. Ukrainian officials reported last week that a citizen of Botswana, recruited through social media, had been killed in the Luhansk region.